World Health Organization – Burden of Disease From the Joint Effects of Household and Ambient Air Pollution for 2012

In new estimates released, WHO reports that in 2012 around 7 million people died - one in eight of total global deaths – as a result of air pollution exposure. This finding more than doubles previous estimates and confirms that air pollution is now the world’s largest single environmental health risk. Reducing air pollution could save millions of lives.

Ambient Air Pollution - Globally, 3.7 million deaths were attributable to ambient air pollution (AAP) in 2012. About 88% of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income (LMI) countries, which represent 82% of the world population. The Western Pacific and South East Asian regions bear most of the burden with 1.67 million and 936’000 deaths, respectively. About 236’000 deaths occur in the Eastern Mediterranean region, 200’000 in Europe, 176’000 in Africa, and 58’000 in the Americas. The remaining deaths occur in high-income countries of Europe (280’000), Americas (94’000), Western Pacific (67’000), and Eastern Mediterranean (14’000).

Household Air Pollution - Globally, 4.3 million deaths were attributable to household air pollution (HAP) in 2012, almost all in low and middle income (LMI) countries. The South East Asian and Western Pacific regions bear most of the burden with 1.69 and 1.62 million deaths, respectively. Almost 600’000 deaths occur in Africa, 200’000 in the Eastern Mediterranean region, 99’000 in Europe and 81’000 in the Americas. The remaining 19’000 deaths occur in high income countries.

Joint Effects of HAP & AAP - Globally, 7 million deaths were attributable to the joint effects of household (HAP) and ambient air pollution (AAP) in 2012. The Western Pacific and South East Asian regions bear most of the burden with 2.8 and 2.3 million deaths, respectively. Almost 680’000 deaths occur in Africa, about 400’000 in the Eastern Mediterranean region, 287’000 in Europe and 131’000 in the Americas. The remaining deaths occur in high-income countries of Europe (295’000), Americas (96’000), Western Pacific (68’000), and Eastern Mediterranean (14’000).